Michael Greger M.D. has provided a very useful video explaining the link between Alzheimer’s and Atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries in layman’s terms. Most people associate clogging of the arteries with heart problems but in actual fact atherosclerosis can affect almost all parts of the body. It is for this reason that many people who suffer from Alzheimer’s in later life also suffer from coronary heart disease and strokes.

Greger further goes on to prove the theory that clogged arteries and Alzheimer’s are closely linked by looking at a study in which people who had Alzheimer’s were monitored for a decline in cognitive abilities. The study showed that those who developed Alzheimer’s, but who had less fatty deposits in their arteries, worsened at a much slower rate than people who had a great deal of cholesterol build up in their brains. Another study showed that people who had Alzheimer’s who had their atherosclerosis treated also declined more slowly than those who were left untreated.

Clogged arteries have a number of causes although a lot can be done to prevent arteries becoming clogged by changes in lifestyle. Regular exercise as well as avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol and trans fats will reduce your risk of heart disease by stopping your arteries becoming clogged up with fatty deposits. Unsurprisingly processed foods are on the list of foods to avoid including oils but so are meat, eggs and dairy.

Although not entirely plant-based one study reported in the CNN article has suggested that a diet high in vegetables can reduce the risk of dementia in healthy adults by up to one third. Considering the increasing rates of the disease it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

However, given the fact that all vegan foods have no cholesterol, a major player in the lead up to Alzheimer’s, it might be safer just to ditch the meat, eggs and dairy altogether.

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